Sarah Schmalenberger, hornist and musicologist, has launched the Life and Livelihood Study at http://www.musiciansurvivor.org in order to examine the physical and occupational well-being of women musicians who have had breast cancer. This national study has been designed to develop a profile of how the diagnosis and treatment of the disease affects women musicians. Physical problems during recovery from breast cancer treatment can be particularly burdensome to musicians, because of their physically demanding occupations or avocations. Unfortunately, scientific research on the number of women musicians diagnosed with breast cancer and the medical and occupational well-being of musicians after breast cancer is essentially nonexistent.

Schmalenberger, herself a survivor of breast cancer who has struggled with chronic pain from multiple surgeries, has assembled an investigative team of researchers to conduct this study, which features a web-based survey that musicians who have had completed their breast cancer treatment can take online. Toward that end, she invites all musicians who have had breast cancer to enroll in the study at the web address, and she invites anyone who knows such a “survivor” to encourage them to enroll in the study. Anonymity will be guaranteed, and no names will be recorded.

Schmalenberger anticipates that the findings from this study will provide a solid basis for further examination of the impact of breast cancer not only on musicians, but also on those in other fields where physical fitness, strength, and stamina are vital to occupational and general well-being.

For more information, you may contact Schmalenberger at [email protected]

http://www.musiciansurvivor.org